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Sept. 17, 1935. J. M. HOTHERSALL CONTAINER Filed Sept. 8, 1933ATroRNEi's na h a 1n- Patented Sept. 17, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CONTAINERJohn M Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company,New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 8,1933, Serial No. 688,679

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to liquid containers or cans and has as anobject the provision of pouring spout elements associated with the canwalls and which function for pouring only after the can walls adjacentsuch elements are punctured or opened to the end that the cans may beclosed and sealed by the usual closure members which remain in place andundisturbed in full sealing position during and following the dispensingof the can contents, thus providing easier opening and better pouringcharacteristics for the cans.

The invention contemplates the manufacturing of the can in the regularmanner and thereupon or at the time of manufacture pressing a pouringspout element in one side wall as a closed bulge or projection, oneportion of which is adapted to be broken open to form a dischargeopening, such a can being then filled, sealed and used for packagingliquids or other contents. A container utilizing a more specificapplication of the side wall pouring principle is disclosed in mypending application on Containers filed September 8, 1933 in the UnitedStates Patent Office, Serial Number 688,678.

An object of the invention is the provision of a necked-in or reducedtop container having a part of its side wall extending up adjacent thenecked-in part to provide a pouring trough or spout which, afteropening, functions to direct the flow of liquid as it passes from thecan.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a liquid containerof the character described wherein dispensing of its contents is hadthrough a dispensing or pouring opening and along a pouring spoutelement formed in the can wall, the pouring opening being temporarilyclosed by a removable reclosure cap after each partial dispensing of theliquid contents.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper part of a liquid containerembodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the pouring spout elementformed in the can wall;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan detail taken substantially along the line 3-3in Fig 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the pouring spout elementin use in dispensing the liquid contents after the can has been opened;and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the reclosing of thepouring opening following the 5 use of the pouring spout element.

The present invention as exemplified by one embodiment and asillustrated in the drawing comprises a body II having a necked-inportion l2 adjacent its top forming a neck smaller than the body andjoined to the same by a shoulder, this necked-in portion providing asmaller diameter container wall to which a cover member l3 may besuitably secured as by a double seam I4. The cover member I3 is securedin its permanent position on the fully formed can after it has beenfilled. A handle I5 is preferably secured on top of the cover member I3by means of which the filled and sealed container may be easily handledand pouring of its contents facilitated.

A pouring spout element is provided in the top of the shoulder of thebody wall I! and in the present form this element takes the generalshape of a. triangular bulge I6 which is produced by pressing upward apart of the container wall in the region of the necked-in portion l2.This reforming of the body wall may be made on a regularly formednecked-in can and as a subsequent operation in which case it does notinterfere with the regular preceding can making processes.

The bulge 16 includes a vertical wall section or corner I! which ispreferably in the same plane as and does not extend out beyond thelarger diameter wall H and therefore entirely included in the canwithout enlarging it. The wall part II is joined by rounded connectingside walls H! which roughly form two sides of the triangular shapementioned, as best shown in Fig. 1.

At the upper part of the wall l1 and joining with the walls 18 there isa third, horizontal wall [9 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which forms a top of thebulge. Wall I9 is roughly triangular in shape and is partially cutthrough or weakened by score lines 2| which in large part follow theouter edge of the walls l8 of the bulge and terminate in spacedreentering ends 22 leaving an unscored portion 23 between the scorelines. This arrangement of score lines outlines a removable part 24(Figs. 3 and 4).

To open the can for the dispensing of its contents, the wall part 24 ispressed in, this action breaking the metal at the score lines andbending it along the unscored connection 23 into the position of Fig. 4.The wall part 24 is now confined entirely inside of the container andthere is thus provided a discharge opening 25 where the metal has beentorn away from the wall I 9.

The dispensing or pouring position of the can is indicated in Fig. 4,the liquid contents flowing along the pouring spout element or troughcorner H. The handle 15 is useful at such a time in lifting and tiltingthe can into its pouring position.

A reclosure cap 3| is provided for temporarily closing the dischargeopening 25 (see Figs. 1 and 5). Such a cap is formed to frictionally fitwithin the opening, one side of the cap engaging the bend of the pressedin part and its other sides engaging the surrounding edges of theopening. Cap 3| is preferably formed with an enlarged or flanged top 32(Fig. 5) which prevents it being pushed through the opening and into thecan. To provide against loss such a cap may be flexibly secured to thecan by a wire or cord 33 engaging the can wall as at 34.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A metal container for liquids, having a body and a smaller neck and arounded shoulder joining said body and neck, a cover member secured onsaid neck for sealing the same, and a closed pouring spout having afraoturable portion formed on and projecting above said shoulder of thebody and within the lateral confines of the latter, said spout beinglocated just below said cover member and operable for dispensing theliquid contents from the container upon opening of the fracturableportion of said pouring spout.

2. A metal container for liquids, having a shoulder and a smaller neck,and a cover member secured thereto for sealing the neck, and a pouringspout formed on the top of said shoulder of the container and locatedjust below said cover member, said container wall forming said pouringspout having weakened score lines setting off a hingedly mounted movablepart, said pouring spout being operable for dispensing the liquidcontents from the container upon opening of the said movable part andswinging the same on its hinge relative to the container wall.

3. A metal container for liquids, having a cover member secured theretofor sealing the same, a pouring spout formed within the body contour ofthe container just below said cover member by having the metal of thebody pressed upward in a bulge of substantially triangular form, theupper wall of said bulge having weakened score lines setting oif aremovable part and provided for opening of the container upon pressingin of the set oif wall part to create a discharge opening through whichthe liquid of the container may be dispensed as it flows along saidspout.

4. A metal container for liquids comprising, in combination, a containerbody having an annular shoulder portion adjacent its upper end, a covermember seamed to the upper end of said body, a pouring spout formed inthe shoulder portion of the container body just below its top end, saidspout being an integral upward projecting part of the wall and closed onall sides, the top side of the projected wall having weakened scorelines setting ofi a removable wall part the removal of which creates adischarge opening through which the liquid of the container may bedispensed as it flows along said spout, and a cap adapted tofrictionally engage Within said discharge opening to provide a reclosurefor the opened container.

5. A metal container for liquids, having a.

cover member secured thereto for sealing the same, the container beingnecked-in or reduced in diameter at its top, and a pouring spout elementformed as an integral part of the container wall by the upwardprojection of the larger diameter Wall adjacent the said reduced end andon one side of the container to produce a triangular bulge, a corner ofsaid bulge with its adjoining walls providing a trough and pouringspout, a portion of the third wall of the bulge being set off by scorelines as a removable area adapted to be pressed inward inside of thecontainer to create a discharge opening at the end of the spout forpassage of the liquid flowing therefrom.

6. A metal container for liquids, having a cover member secured theretofor sealing the same, the container being necked-in and reduced indiameter at its top cover end, a handle secured to said cover forlifting the container, and a pouring spout element formed as an integralpart of the container wall adjacent its reduced end and having a flathorizontal top wall at the end thereof, a

portion of said top wall being adapted for breaking away from theremaining part to open the container so that the liquid content flowsfrom the container along the spout element when it is lifted by itshandle and tilted into dispensing position.

7. A metal container for liquids, having a cover member secured theretoand sealing the same, a pouring spout formed in and as an integral partof a body wall of the container just below said cover member and withinthe lateral confines of said body wall, said spout being formed bypressing outwardly in a bulge the metal of the container, one wall ofsaid spout being provided with weakened score lines spaced apart on oneside to leave an unscored section and setting off a removable part andproviding for opening of the container upon pressing in of the metalpart defined by the score lines and bending it along its unscoredsection to create a discharge opening for dispensing the liquid from thecontainer, and

a cap flexibly attached to the container and adapted to be sealed in andto frictionally engage the bent removable part of said bulged wall andto project into said discharge opening to provide

